Window seal for a convertible

ABSTRACT

The profiled seal which is provided to produce a sealing arrangement between a vertically sliding window pane and a roof frame of a cabriolet comprises a metal carrier rail and a length of profiled elastomer co-extruded with the carrier rail. The profiled seal has a three-dimensional shape and can be attached to connection parts of the roof frame by attachment elements. At least two assembly regions of the carrier rail which protrude out of the length of profiled elastomer transversely to the longitudinal direction and cooperate with the attachment elements are provided disposed in the longitudinal direction of the profiled seal at a mutually spaced disposition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a profiled seal for providing a sealingarrangement between a vertically sliding window pane and a roof frame ofa cabriolet.

In the case of a known profiled seal of this type (WO 97/00180 A1; FIGS.2, 3, 6 and 7) the window pane comes into contact with two oppositelying sealing lips. The sealing lips form longitudinal edges of thelength of profiled elastomer. The attachment elements penetrate thelength of profiled elastomer and the carrier rail and are mountedthrough the sealing lips on the connection part. It is possible for dustand/or moisture to collect in an undesired manner above the sealing lipsinside the profiled seal. Moreover, it is necessary to cut the profiledseal into sections and each section must be stretch-bent into therequired three-dimensional shape using costly tools.

It is known per se to produce a holding rail as an extruded aluminumprofile, to stretch-bend it into the desired three-dimensional shape andto attach it by means of attachment elements to the connection part.Only then is the length of profiled elastomer inserted on the motorvehicle assembly line into the receiving devices on both sides of theholding rail. This is time-consuming and costly.

A profiled seal is known per se from U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,583 A (FIGS.12A and 12B) for providing a sealing arrangement between a verticallysliding window pane and a roof frame of a limousine, wherein a rubberseal is pushed onto an attachment rail of a formed part and attachedthereto by means of an adhesive strip on both sides. The formed partcomprises for the attachment to the roof frame tabs which do notprotrude beyond the rubber seal so that it is first necessary to attachthe formed part and then in a further operational step to attach therubber seal.

Moreover, a cladding assembly for motor vehicle doors and comprisingprofiled seals is known per se from DE 693 11 456 T2 (FIG. 7) forproviding a sealing arrangement between a vertically sliding window paneand the door, wherein tabs are provided for he purpose of attaching astay-piece, which receives a profiled seal, to a door inner wall. Thetabs are thus not part of a profiled seal carrier rail which serves as areinforcing and fixing means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to simplify and improve the profiled sealand its assembly.

This object is achieved with a profiled seal for providing a sealingarrangement between a vertically sliding window pane and a roof frame ofa cabriolet. The profiled seal includes a metal carrier rail and alength of profiled elastomer which is co-extruded with the carrier rail,and wherein the profiled seal has a three-dimensional shape and can befixed on connection parts of the roof frame by attachment elements. Atleast two assembly regions of the carrier rail protrude out of thelength of profiled elastomer transverse to the longitudinal direction,which assembly regions are disposed at a mutually spaced disposition inthe longitudinal direction of the profiled seal and cooperate with theattachment elements. The roof associated with the roof frame can be afolding cover or a multi-part hard folding roof. The roof frame canoptionally also comprise the A-column of the cabriolet. The carrier railconsists preferably of sheet metal and is for example manufactured fromaluminum, steel or stainless steel. The length of profiled elastomer isoptionally co-extruded from a plurality of different elastomers. Theprofiled seal is preferably produced such that first the strip-shaped,planar carrier rail is extruded within the length of profiled elastomer.In so doing, however, a strip of carrier rail containing the assemblyregions does protrude at the side from the length of profiled elastomer.This strip is stamped after the co-extrusion, such that assembly regionsremain while holes are produced to receive the attachment elements. Ifrequired, the assembly regions can moreover be bent into the finalassembly position. It is not necessary to stretch-bend the profiled sealproduced in this manner. On the contrary, the profiled seal is attacheddirectly to the connection part of the roof frame by way of the assemblyregions. As a consequence of the punched out areas adjacent to theassembly regions the profiled seal can be bent very easily about atransverse axis into a final three-dimensional shape and can beassembled in this shape on to the connection part.

The cost of assembly at the production line of the cabriolets isconsiderably reduced. Moreover, the hitherto necessary considerablecosts for the stretch-bending process are no longer incurred.

Additional features include removal of the metal material of the carrierrail, which material is originally disposed in the longitudinaldirection adjacent to the assembly regions. These features enable theassemble regions to be produced rapidly and in a precise manner from theedge strip of the carrier rail left free during the co-extrusion fromthe elastomer material.

In accordance with another embodiment, the assembly regions are bentrelative to the remainder of the carrier rail in a position which isfavorable for the assembly process. Here, the assembly regions can bebent into any desired position favorable for the assembly.

In another embodiment, the length of profiled elastomer includes a footwhich cooperates in a sealing manner with the closure part. The footincludes a longitudinal groove on a first longitudinal edge remote fromthe assembly regions. A dimensionally stable edge flange of a roof ofthe cabriolet engages in the longitudinal groove. These features enablethe foot to be held against the connection part in a particularly goodand defined sealing position.

In another embodiment, the edge flange is a component of an outer metalsheet of a roof part of a hard folding roof. In yet another embodiment,the edge flange is a component of a closure strip, and a longitudinaledge of a cover material of a folding roof cover is fixed on theassociated closure part of the roof frame by means of the closure strip.In accordance with these embodiments, the available rigid edge flange issufficient to reliably hold the foot.

The foot can include outside the longitudinal groove a sealing lip whichlies prestressed in a sealing manner against the roof. These featuresenhance the sealing arrangement of the associated gap against moistureand noise.

In another embodiment, a limb of the length of profiled elastomerextends outwards at an angle from a second longitudinal edge of the footadjacent to the assembly regions. A membrane of the length of profiledelastomer is attached between a free longitudinal edge of the limb andthe first longitudinal edge of the foot and forms a hollow cavity in thelength of profiled elastomer. In accordance with these features, ahollow cavity is produced in the length of profiled elastomer and thiscavity partly receives the window pane as it closes. As this hollowcavity is normally hermetically sealed, neither dust nor moisture canpenetrate into the hollow cavity and adversely affect the window pane.

In accordance with an embodiment where the window pane comes intosealing contact with the membrane when the pane is in the uppermostregion of its travel, a good sealing arrangement is produced between theclosed window pane and the membrane.

In accordance with an embodiment where the foot and the limb consist ofsoft rubber and the membrane consists of expanded rubber, the softrubber can have a hardness of 60 Shore A and the expanded rubber canhave a hardness of for example 15 Shore A. Soft rubber and expandedrubber are preferably co-extruded together with the carrier rail usingthe duplex method.

The carrier rail can extend in a foot of the length of profiledelastomer, which foot cooperates in a sealing manner with the closurepart. These features serve to reinforce the foot and promote the sealingposition of the foot against the connection part.

In accordance with an embodiment where the carrier rail extends in thelimb of the length of profiled elastomer, the limb is reinforced whichcorrespondingly increases the deformation resistance of the limb whenthe window pane is received into the hollow cavity of the length ofprofiled elastomer.

The features of an embodiment where the carrier rail is provided withcut-outs on its longitudinal edge disposed in the length of profiledelastomer, allows the profiled seal to be bent about a vertical axiswhen the installation situation demands this. The cut-outs areexpediently produced in the longitudinal edge of the carrier rail priorto the co-extrusion process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This and other advantages and features of the invention are explainedhereinunder in detail with reference to the exemplified embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the roof region of a cabriolet with afolding cover,

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the roof region of a cabriolet with ahard folding roof,

FIG. 3 illustrates the enlarged sectional view according to line III—IIIin FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a reduced scale, perspective illustration of the profiledseal in accordance with FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view according to FIG. 3 through anotherembodiment of the profiled seal,

FIG. 6 shows a reduced scale, perspective illustration of the profiledseal in accordance with FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view in accordance withline VII—VII in FIG. 1 and

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate respectively the plan view of different carrierrails.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a roof frame 1 of a cabriolet in a schematicillustration comprises an A-column 2 and a three-part folding cover 3comprising a roof frame I 4, a roof frame II 5 and a roof frame III 6.

Like parts are provided with like numerals in all figures in thedrawings.

FIG. 2 illustrates the roof frame 1 of a cabriolet which comprises theA-column 2 and a two-part hard folding roof 7 comprising a roof frame I8 and a roof frame II 9.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roof frame I 8 is provided with athree-dimensional connection part 10 which consists for example of castaluminum. A lacquered, visible outer metal sheet 12 of an associatedroof part 13 of the folding roof 7 surrounds a flange 11 of theconnection part 10. The outer metal sheet 12 comprises an inwardlycurved, dimensionally stable edge flange 14 which engages in alongitudinal groove 15 in a foot 16 of a length of profiled elastomer 17of a profiled seal 18.

The outer metal sheet 12 can for example be adhered to the flange 11.The longitudinal grove 15 is formed in a first longitudinal edge 19 ofthe foot 16. A limb 21 of the length of profiled elastomer 17 extendsoutwards at an angle approx. 90° from an opposite lying secondlongitudinal edge 20 of the foot 16. A cover lip 22 is formed as one onthe free longitudinal edge of the limb 21 and cooperates with an innercladding 23 of the roof part 13, which inner cladding is to be assembledat the end. The foot 16, the limb 21 and the cover lip 22 consist ofsoft rubber. A membrane 24 of the length of profiled elastomer isattached between the free longitudinal edge of the limb 21 and the firstlongitudinal edge 19 of the foot 16. The membrane 24 consists in thiscase of expanded rubber and cooperates in a sealing manner with a sidewindow pane 26 of the cabriolet, which side window slides vertically inthe directions of the double arrow 25. FIG. 3 illustrates the windowpane 26 by the dot-dash line in its closed end position, whereas themembrane 24 is still illustrated in its unloaded starting position. Ahollow cavity 27 is provided in the inside of the length of profiledelastomer 17. Outside the longitudinal groove 15, a sealing lip 28 whichlies prestressed in a sealing manner against the outer metal sheet 12and/or on its edge flange 14 is formed as one on the first longitudinaledge 19 of the foot 16. The sealing lip 28 likewise consists of softrubber.

A carrier rail 29 which consists of sheet metal is connected to thelength of profiled elastomer 17 by means of co-extrusion. As shown inFIG. 3, a part 30 of the carrier rail 29 is formed as one in the foot 16and extends as far as into a sealing edge 31 on the first longitudinaledge 19 of the foot 16. The sealing edge 31 lies prestressed on the oneside against the edge flange 14 and on the other side with a sealing rib32, likewise prestressed, against a sealing surface 33 of the connectionpart 10. The sealing edge 31 and the sealing rib 32 are held by the edgeflange 14 in a good sealing position against the sealing surface 33. Thefoot 16 with a sealing rib 34 is moved into a particularly good sealingcontact with the sealing surface at its second longitudinal edge 20.This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the tab-like assemblyregions 35 of the contract rail 29, which protrude out of the foot 16,in the case of FIG. 3 are angled at an angle of 90° and are screwed tothe connection part 10 by way of attachment elements 36 which are formedas screws. Each screw 36 penetrates a bore 42 in the associated assemblyregion 35. A radial clearance exists between the screw 36 and the bore42 which clearance can be used during the assembly process to adjust theprofiled seal 18 relative to the connection part 10.

The carrier rail 29 is provided on its longitudinal edge disposed in thelength of profiled elastomer 17 with cut-outs 37.

Referring to FIG. 4, two of these cut-outs 37 are illustrated asexamples by a broken line. The cut-outs 37 are disposed alternately withtongues 38 of the part 30 over the entire length of the part 30 in alongitudinal direction 39 (FIG. 4) of the profiled seal 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, the material 43 (FIG. 8) of the carrier rail 29disposed originally in the longitudinal direction 39 adjacent to theassembly regions 35, 35 is removed, for example punched out. As aconsequence, the profiled seal 18 can be bent comparatively easily abouta horizontal transverse axis A—A for the purpose of adjusting to theinstallation situation. On the other hand, the cut-outs 37 allow theprofiled seal 18 to be bent comparatively easily about a vertical axisB—B. The cut-outs 37 are then only necessary when in the end the profileseal 18 must also be bent during the assembly about the vertical axisB—B.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 differs with respect to thatillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 above all by virtue of the fact that thecarrier rail 29 no longer extends in the foot 16, but rather extends inthe limb 21. It is also possible here if required to provide cut-outs 37alternating with tongues 38 on the longitudinal edge of part 30 of thecarrier rail 29. The bores 42 comprise here practically no radialclearance with respect to the screw 36 which simplifies the assembly ofthe profiled seal 18.

The embodiment in accordance with FIG. 7 is similar to that as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. However, FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section through theroof frame I 4 of the folding roof cover 3 as shown in FIG. 1.

A longitudinal edge of a cover material 40 is drawn around the flange 11and held in this position by means of a closure strip 41 manufactured insynthetic material. The closure strip 41 can for example be stitched tothe cover material 40. In this case, the sealing lip 28 cooperates in asealing manner with the closure strip 41. The edge flange 14 is formedas one piece with the closure strip 41.

FIG. 8 illustrates the plan view of the carrier rail 29 used inaccordance with FIGS. 3 and 4. The carrier rail 29 is in this statestill planar and has the contour illustrated by the bold line. In otherwords, the cut-outs 37 and extrusion holes 44 are already provided priorto the carrier rail 29 being introduced in this form to the extrusionhead of an extruder for co-extrusion with the profile seal 18. Inpreference the configuration of the carrier rail 29 indicated on theright hand side of FIG. 8 by the dot-dash line is only produced afterthis co-extrusion. In so doing, the material 43 disposed in thelongitudinal direction 39 adjacent to the assembly regions 35 and thebores 42 are simultaneously punched out. Finally, the assembly regions35 are bent by approx. 90° with respect to the remainder of the carrierrail 29, as is evident from FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 9 illustrates the plan view of a carrier rail 29, as can be used inaccordance with FIGS. 5 to 7. The production and processing of thiscarrier rail 29 are substantially the same as those relating to FIG. 8.

What is claimed is:
 1. A profiled seal for providing a sealingarrangement between a vertically sliding window pane and a roof frame ofa cabriolet, said profiled seal comprising: a metal carrier rail and alength of profiled elastomer which is co-extruded with the carrier rail;said profiled seal having a three-dimensional shape that can be fixedlyattached to a connection part of the roof frame by attachment elements;and wherein said carrier rail has at least two assembly regions whichprotrude out of said length of profiled elastomer transverse to alongitudinal direction of said profiled seal, which assembly regions aredisposed at a mutually spaced disposition in said longitudinal directionand cooperate with said attachment elements.
 2. A profiled seal inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said carrier rail is formed with theremoval of metal material therefrom, said material being originallydisposed in the longitudinal direction adjacent to said assemblyregions.
 3. A profiled seal in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidassembly regions are bent relative to a remainder of said carrier railin a position which is favorable for the assembly process.
 4. A profiledseal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said assembly regions are bentrelative to a remainder of said carrier rail in a position which isfavorable for the assembly process.
 5. A profiled seal in accordancewith claim 1 in combination with said connection part, wherein saidlength of profiled elastomer comprises a foot which cooperates in asealing manner with the connection part, said foot comprising alongitudinal groove on a first longitudinal edge remote from saidassembly regions, said longitudinal groove configured to engaginglyreceive a dimensionally stable edge flange of the roof of the cabriolet.6. A profiled seal combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein saidedge flange is a component of an outer metal sheet of a roof part of ahard folding roof.
 7. A profiled seal combination in accordance withclaim 5 further comprising; a closure strip of which said edge flange isa component; and a cover material of a folding roof cover, said covermaterial having a longitudinal edge which is fixedly attached on theconnection part by means of said closure strip.
 8. A profiled sealcombination in accordance with claim 5 wherein said foot comprisesoutside said longitudinal groove a sealing lip which lies prestressed ina sealing manner against the roof.
 9. A profiled seal combination inaccordance with claim 6 wherein said foot comprises outside saidlongitudinal groove a sealing lip which lies prestressed in a sealingmanner against the roof.
 10. A profiled seal combination in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said length of profiled elastomer has a limbextending outwards at an angle from a second longitudinal edge of thefoot adjacent to the assembly regions, and said length of profiledelastomer has a membrane attached between a free longitudinal edge ofthe limb and the first longitudinal edge of the foot and forms a hollowcavity in the length of profiled elastomer.
 11. A profiled sealcombination in accordance with claim 10 wherein said membrane ispositioned to come into sealing contact with said window pane when saidpane is in its uppermost region of travel.
 12. A profiled sealcombination in accordance with claim 10 wherein the foot and the limbconsist of soft rubber and the membrane consists of expanded rubber. 13.A profiled seal combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein the footand the limb consist of soft rubber and the membrane consists ofexpanded rubber.
 14. A profiled seal combination in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the length of profiled elastomer comprises a foot, andwherein said carrier rail extends in said foot, which foot is forcooperating in a sealing manner with the connection part.
 15. A profiledseal combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein the length ofprofiled elastomer comprises a foot, and wherein said carrier railextends in said foot, which foot is for cooperating in a sealing mannerwith the connection part.
 16. A profiled seal combination in accordancewith claim 5 wherein the length of profiled elastomer comprises a foot,and wherein said carrier rail extends in said foot, which footcooperates in a sealing manner with the connection part.
 17. A profiledseal combination in accordance with claim 10 wherein the carrier railextends in said limb of the length of profiled elastomer.
 18. A profiledseal in accordance with claim 1 comprising cut-outs in said carrier railon its longitudinal edge disposed in the length of the profiledelastomer.
 19. A profiled seal in accordance with claim 2 comprisingcut-outs in said carrier rail on its longitudinal edge disposed in thelength of the profiled elastomer.
 20. A profiled seal in accordance withclaim 3 comprising cut-outs in said carrier rail on its longitudinaledge disposed in the length of the profiled elastomer.